I83380: EINAR Earl of Orkney (____

Notes

"Upon the death of Einar, Earl of the Orkneys, in 936, he was succeeded by his son Thorfinn, called the "Skull-cleaver," who married Grelauga, daughter of Dungadr, or Duncan, the Jarl of Caithness, and thus confirmed the possession of that province to his descendants.

His eldest son, Havard, having succeeded to the rule, was slain by his own wife; and Liotr, the second son, assumed the title and domain. Another brother, Skuli, disputed [p.238]the succession. Having secured the support of the Scottish king, he gave battle to Liotr and was slain. Liotr fought a second battle with the Scots, and killed Earl Maelbrigdi, their leader; but received a wound himself from which he afterwards died.

Hlodver, the surviving son of Thorfinn Einarson, then became Earl of Orkney.

Upon his death, which occurred about the year 980, Sigurd, his son, became ruler. Soon after, Finley (or Finleikre or Finlaec--son of Ruaidhri and brother to Maelbrigdi) who was the Scottish Mormaor (Earl) of Moray, made war against Sigurd, but was defeated by him in battle. The latter, in consequence, gained possession of Moray, Ross, Sutherland, and "Dali," all of which provinces he ruled over in 989. However, Finley mac Ruaidhri eventually recovered Moray at a later date, and continued as lord of that district until 1020, when he was slain by the sons of his brother, Maelbrigdi.

These sons of Maelbrigdi appear to have been Malcolm, who died in 1029, and Gilcomgain, who was killed in 1032. The latter had married Gruoch, daughter of Boete (son of King Kenneth MacMalcolm), or according to some authorities, a granddaughter of Boete other than Gruoch. After the death of Gilcomgain, his widow married Macbeth (son of Finley), who doubtless had a hand in the killing of her first husband, in retaliation for the killing of Finley by Gilcomgain and his brother.

Malcolm mac Maelbrigdi (so-called by Tighernac), who died in 1029, is spoken of by the annalist as "ri (or king) of Scotland." Undoubtedly at that time the mormaors of Moray were the virtual rulers of the greater part of Scotland lying north of the Grampians. Under the Pictish system of descent, the rights of a deceased king's brother were superior to those of the king's son; and as that system prevailed in the Highlands long after the tenth century, Finley would be the natural successor to the mormaorship on the death of his brother Maelbrigdi. This succession, however, as indicated above, was disputed by the sons of Maelbrigdi, and they succeeded in settling the title for the time being by killing their uncle. After their own deaths, Macbeth was the next in succession, notwithstanding Gilcomgain had left an infant son (Lulach).

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My Southern Family

EINAR Earl of Orkney

____ - 0936

ID Number: I83380

Notes

Sources

James DUNBAR

ABT 1780 - ____

ID Number: I44684

Sources

Margaret GREEKE

ABT 1540 - ____

ID Number: I17110

Sources

Eudora Caroline GUERRANT

ABT 1860 - young

ID Number: I42314

Sources

Sarah Jane HODGES

4 Oct 1843 - 27 Dec 1921

ID Number: I102650

Sources

Julia LILLY

ABT 1840 - ____

ID Number: I88747

Sources

Mary MCALPINE

ABT 1779 - AFT 1790

ID Number: I92663

Sources

William MOSELEY II

ABT 1660 - BEF 10 Apr 1700

ID Number: I57288

Sources

Stephen Patrick WITHERS